Honoring Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage

KTLA 5’s special, hosted by Frank Buckley and Cher Calvin, highlights Asian American and Pacific Islander culture through stories of innovators and community leaders across Southern California, emphasizing the importance of preserving heritage while adapting it for future generations. Key segments include: Eunjoo Kim, a Koreatown designer and owner of a hanbok boutique, who modernizes traditional Korean clothing with high-fashion elements. Her work has been featured at LACMA, worn by celebrities like Sandra Oh and Daniel Dae Kim, and showcased at New York Fashion Week. Carlyle Nuera, lead designer for Barbie Signature at Mattel, who honors his Filipino heritage through culturally inspired dolls like “Mutya Barbie.” His designs emphasize representation and have become globally recognized collector’s items. The TaikoProject, a Los Angeles-based performance group in Little Tokyo, which blends traditional Japanese taiko drumming with modern choreography while educating new generations through its academy. Chef Britney Wang, a Shanghai-born, Honolulu-raised chef in Los Angeles, who builds community through dumpling-making classes and dining experiences that celebrate Chinese culinary traditions. The Tulaphorn family, whose journey began when they immigrated to the U.S. in 1976 and built a successful business with McDonald’s. Their story reflects Thai cultural values and ongoing community involvement, including participation in the Songkran Festival. Across each story, the special underscores a shared theme: AAPI individuals and businesses are preserving cultural identity, fostering representation, and creating lasting impact in their communities. Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/ktla?sub_confirmation=1